The Social Democratic Party (SDP), Kogi State, has decried the attack on its governorship candidate and its supporters, describing it as a sign that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has admitted defeat in the November 11 governorship election in the state.
Dr Okeme Arome, the SDP Secretary in Kogi, made the assertion in a press statement made available to journalists on Sunday in Lokoja.
According to Okeme, gunmen in security uniform in the governor’s convoy attacked the SDP candidate on Saturday while on his way to Lokoja from the palace of HRM Ohimege of Kotonkarfi.
“His Excellency, Muritala Yakubu Ojonimi Ajaka, is on a familiarisation tour to first class traditional rulers in the State preparatory for commencement of campaign activities ahead of the November 11, Kogi governorship polls.
“The convoy and supporters of Alh. Muritala Ajaka and his supporters was attacked close to Lokoja with his vehicle riddled with bullets, a situation which forced the convoy of our candidate to retreat in order to forestall further breakdown of law and order with a possible loss of lives and property.
“We wish to bring this to the notice of His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Security agencies and well meaning Nigerians of this heinous act.
“We call on Mr. President to promptly prevail on Gov. Yahaya Bello to allow for the freewill of the people of Kogi State to manifest by exercising their rights to freedom of association by being bold enough to arrest the perpetrators of this ugly incident who are within his supporters, in order to forestall future occurrence,” Okeme said.
He stressed that the SDP was not unaware of the grand plot of the ruling APC led by the governor and his agents to use security agencies in the state to arrest SDP supporters on thumped up allegations of arms bearing, thuggery, terrorism and kidnapping having not been able to pin any criminality on any of the supporters of their great party.
“True to the build up to this, he had initially appointed a known thug and a former disgraced lawmaker, who was caught redhanded at a robbery incident some years ago, as the director general, special task force on illegal smuggling of firearms. The party does not assume this a mere coincidence.
“With this failed attempt at assassinating our candidate and the government’s position at turning the tables around to accusing the party and her supporters, we are calling on Nigerians, and indeed the President, to wade into the matter as it is obvious that the governor intends to begin arresting supporters of the party in the coming days, while pinning weapons on them and accusing them wrongly.
“The party has not forgotten so soon how both State and non-State elements were employed in 2019 to cause mayhem to our party by burning SDP State secretariat, destroyed various LGA offices and caused deaths of many of its supporters.
“The party this time will not standby and watch the Governor, whose penchant for politics of violence, manipulation and intimidation is monumental, tilt the State into a battle field tantamount to South Sudan of today.
“The people of Kogi are not only tired of the draconian State Government but completely exhausted to their breakpoint. They have made up their mind to do away with Yahaya Bello and his puppets forever.
“It is understandable to see that as usual, with his last efforts, violence will always play front role and reign supreme,” the SDP scribe said.
He added: “We therefore admonish the Federal Government to urgently intervene so that, the reckless action of the failed and drowning Government led by Yahaya Bello, won’t force law abiding citizens of the state to resorting into self help.”
